Friday, May 4

More on the Eucharistic Procession

The Kloska family weblog has some excellent photos of the Notre Dame Eucharistic procession from a couple of weeks back--definitely have a look. Expect more photos in the next few weeks from other sources, as other shots inevitably surface on Facebook and elsewhere. Incidentally, it seems we lowballed the attendance figures for the event. One reader, and eyewitness, writes:

600, I think, is a conservative estimate. There were so many little children that it was hard to count them all. One person I know was counting groups of twenty-five adults at a time and estimates that there were almost 600 adults and maybe another 50-100 children. In any event, it was an unexpectedly large group which really made a statement - and certainly brought blessings upon the campus. Especially wonderful is the enthusiastic cooperation of Gail Walton and the Liturgical Choir. Their song on the steps of the Dome as the Blessed Sacrament was placed on the altar was a very touching moment.

Be sure to note the extra-elaborate altars this year: I'm told that a pleasantly pious spirit of competition, just like in the days of the old Corpus Christi guilds, has overtaken the various campus ministries, who are all hoping to outdo the other next year: "But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." St. Paul would be proud.

UPDATE! I've run across more shots of the procession via Shrine friend and Southern SMC belle Spera in Deo.

The crucifer, torchbearers and Master of Ceremonies.

The Sanctissimum under Its new canopy, the honor guard of Knights, and priests in the habit of the Holy Cross fathers.

"Go to the encounter with him in the Blessed Eucharist, go to adore him in the churches, kneeling before the Tabernacle: Jesus will fill you with his love and will reveal to you the thoughts of his Heart. If you listen to him, you will feel ever more deeply the joy of belonging to his Mystical Body, the Church, which is the family of his disciples held close by the bond of unity and love."
- Pope Benedict, Message to Dutch Youth

Dan: A perpetual choirmember, seek him where good music or custard are to be found. Contact him at basilique(at)gmail(dot)com

Emily: A graduate of Notre Dame's Philosophy and Latin programs, religious ed expert and Alto at large, she can be reached at emilynd06(at)gmail(dot)com

Matt: A graduate of ND's Architecture School, illustrator, church furnishing designer, and founder of Matthew Alderman Studios, doing entirely too many things at the same time in jolly old New England. Reach him at malderman83(at)gmail(dot)com

Drew: A lover of Jackie Chan and Cuckoo Clocks, he be can contacted at andrew_na(at)hotmail(dot)com

Becket: This Whapster Emeritus and longtime admirer of the Holy Father is enjoying his retirement on the shores of the Missisippi.

Vanitas Vanitatum:

"Cardinal, we're students at the University of Notre Dame in the United States..."
"Ah! Notre Dame!"~Benedict XVI (really)

"The Shrine of the Holy Whapping should be a part of every Christian's daily reading and meditation. Every time you load the page, you find something very much worth thinking about."~Fr. Jim Tucker

Even Weirder

St. Dymphna, protectress of lunatics, pray for us!
"Christianity, and nothing
else is the ultimate foundation
of liberty, conscience,
human rights, and democracy...
We continue to nourish
ourselves from this source.
Everything else is
postmodern chatter."
- Jürgen Habermas

"We desire that this practice... of using distinctive names by which Catholics are marked off from other Catholics, should cease; such names must be avoided... [they] are neither true nor just... they lead to great disturbance and confuse the Catholic body."
- Benedict XV, Ad Beatissimi Apostolorum